The Desert Media Foundation awards grants to filmmakers, content creators, and creative professionals for projects that invest in our local community.
Our two first grants launching September 2026 are:
- The Lombardo Family Grant
- The Soroptimist International Yucca Valley Chapter Grant
GRANTS INTRODUCTION
The Joshua Tree Film Office is pleased to announce its first two micro grants, created to support emerging filmmakers and encourage new film projects to be produced locally in Yucca Valley.
In 2018, then Mayor of Yucca Valley Dr. Bob Lombardo was hosting his regular Coffee with the Mayor gatherings. New Yucca Valley resident Matt Beurois attended one of those meetings and presented his project of a film festival for the Town. Mayor Lombardo welcomed the idea and connected Beurois with Town staff, helping pave the way for what would soon become the Yucca Valley Film Festival.
Eight years later, the Lombardo family continues to champion and support independent filmmaking in Yucca Valley, this time through a personal contribution of $500 to establish the first Joshua Tree Film Office micro grant.
The initiative has already inspired another local partner to join. The Yucca Valley chapter of Soroptimist International is matching the contribution with a second $500 micro grant. In keeping with Soroptimist International’s mission, this grant will be awarded specifically to a female filmmaker.
With these grants, the Joshua Tree Film Office, together with the Lombardo Family and Soroptimist International of Yucca Valley, is taking another step toward making the desert a place where filmmakers do more than visit.
The goal is to attract filmmakers to produce here, showcase our landscapes and communities, create opportunities for local businesses and talent, and continue weaving meaningful connections between our community and the artists of today and tomorrow.
Both grants build on the groundwork established by the Yucca Valley Film Festival, which has spent years bringing filmmakers to the area and establishing our communities as a destination for independent film.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible filmmakers must have been officially selected by the Yucca Valley Film Festival in competition at any time, in any year. There is no restriction on the year of selection and no age restriction.
Applicants must be either the director or producer of the project.
For the Soroptimist International Grant, both the applicant and the director must be female filmmakers.
For these initial grants, documentaries and animated short films are not eligible.
KEY CONDITION
At least one scene, representing a minimum of one page of the completed script must be filmed in person locally, within the Yucca Valley ZIP code.
For music videos, at least one location within the Yucca Valley ZIP code must be used as a primary filming location.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
The project must be a narrative, live action film.
There are no genre, runtime, or format restrictions.
Projects must be suitable for public presentation and consistent with the standards of a community based film program.
Projects should avoid excessive or gratuitous violence or profanity beyond what is reasonably appropriate to the project’s genre.
Projects whose primary purpose is political or religious advocacy are not eligible.
GRANT MONEY
Each micro grant provides $500.
Grant funds will only be distributed to US bank accounts.
ADDITIONAL PERKS AND PRODUCTION SUPPORT
Beyond the $500 grant, both the Lombardo Family Grant and the Soroptimist International Yucca Valley Grant include practical production support and local incentives.
The Joshua Tree Film Office will assist grant recipients with the Yucca Valley portion of their production, including:
- Pre production support for the locally based portion of the project
- Identifying appropriate filming locations
- Assistance securing filming permits
- Recruiting local crew, extras, and talent
- Identifying cost effective local accommodation options, when needed
- Promoting the project locally, with the JTFO serving as a local publicity partner
- Exploring local screening opportunities, including the YVFF, movie theaters, community spaces, art venues, micro cinemas, and drive ins
The goal is to help filmmakers keep their local production costs as low as possible while making the most of the resources available in Yucca Valley.
Grant recipients will also be asked to participate in a minimum number of promotional interviews with local press, radio, magazines, and television outlets, make reasonable efforts to respond to additional media inquiries, and diligently follow through on local partnership opportunities generated by the project.
DATES AND TIMELINE
September 1, 2026: Applications open
November 27, 2026: Applications close
Before December 31, 2026: Grant recipients announced
Following selection: Grant agreement executed between the JTFO and each recipient
Following execution of agreement: Grant funds distributed in full
Grant recipients must complete their films and deliver the finished project to the Joshua Tree Film Office by September 12, 2027.
YVFF SCREENING
The Yucca Valley Film Festival will be pleased to give grant recipients a first look at their completed films and consider them for the November 2027 festival.
If a filmmaker or producer wishes to preserve premiere status for a domestic or international festival strategy, the YVFF will consider screening the film out of competition when appropriate, in order to preserve the premiere status required by the applicant’s festival strategy.
HOW TO SUBMIT
We want to keep the application process as simple as possible for filmmakers.
Applicants may apply to one of the two grants only, and are asked to provide:
- One page project presentation: A written presentation of the project. We recommend using approximately half a page to pitch the script and story, and the other half to present the scope of the project, including anticipated crew size, production strategy, and goals.
- Script: A script, if available at the time of application. If not available, it may be submitted no later than January 29, 2027.
- Producer and director bios
- Anticipated local production needs: A list of anticipated needs in Yucca Valley, such as locations, catering, craft services, crew, talent, lodging, parking, permits, and other production services.
- Social media: Social media pages or handles for the director and/or producer.
- Additional links: Website, project page or pages, storyboard, trailer, or other relevant materials.
GRANT SELECTION
Applications for the Lombardo Family Grant will be reviewed by representatives of the Joshua Tree Film Office, the Lombardo Family, and the Yucca Valley Film Festival.
Applications for the Soroptimist International Grant will be reviewed by representatives of the Joshua Tree Film Office, Soroptimist International of Yucca Valley, and the Yucca Valley Film Festival.